The Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive species that has garnered widespread public attention since its arrival in the United States. As this planthopper spreads, people often question whether it produces noise. This article addresses the sounds these insects make, focusing on their biological limitations and their scientifically documented method of communication.
The Direct Answer: Are Spotted Lanternflies Audibly Loud?
Spotted Lanternflies do not possess the specialized biological structures required to produce loud, airborne sounds audible to humans. Unlike noisy insects such as cicadas and crickets, which use tymbals or stridulatory organs, the lanternfly lacks these mechanisms. Even in large numbers, they do not create the familiar, high-decibel chorus associated with other insect populations.
The adult lanternfly is functionally silent in terms of acoustic output over a distance. Their wings are not designed to create a loud buzzing sound, and the species does not rely on traditional acoustic communication for mating or territorial defense. Any occasional noise is more likely a minor byproduct of their movement rather than an intentional, structured sound signal.
Communication Through Vibration
While Spotted Lanternflies do not communicate through the air, they rely on substrate-borne vibrations, a method known as tremulation. This involves transmitting signals through the host plant material, such as tree bark, stems, and leaves. They use specialized sensory organs to detect these typically low-frequency vibrations.
This form of communication is common across many species within the order Hemiptera. The vibrations are generated by the insect’s movement or by oscillating its body against the plant surface. Signals sent through the substrate are used for close-range interactions, including courtship, mating, and coordinating aggregation behavior among individuals.
Scientific research shows that both adult and fourth-instar nymph Spotted Lanternflies perceive and respond to vibroacoustic stimuli. In laboratory settings, they show attraction to signals around 60 Hz. This suggests the vibrational channel is how they locate and interact, and this insight is being studied for its potential use in developing novel, vibration-based traps to manage this invasive pest.
Sources of Misattributed Sounds
The public often reports hearing noises they believe originate directly from the Spotted Lanternflies, which can be attributed to several factors. One primary source is the sheer density of a large infestation. The collective action of hundreds or thousands of insects creates a subtle background sound, such as the faint rustling of their bodies or the collective thump as they hop.
The most common source of loud buzzing is not the lanternfly itself, but the secondary insects it attracts. As the lanternflies feed on plant sap, they excrete a sugary waste product called honeydew. This sticky substance draws in other insects like wasps, bees, and flies, which produce loud, buzzing flight sounds, leading people to incorrectly assume the sound originates from the lanternflies. A very faint sound may also be generated by their feeding process. When the lanternfly inserts its piercing-sucking mouthpart (stylet) into the plant tissue to extract sap, a slight clicking or faint noise can occasionally be heard in extremely quiet conditions by a person standing very close.